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Will you consider The Ones to watch By filmfestivals.com August 2017 Selection
Dear Festival programmers
I would like to share with you these amazing films which I have selected for festival consideration. They are part of our 'Ones To Watch' section. And I believe each of them has a story that can change the way we see life.
DEAD ON ARRIVAL D.O.A. by Stephen Sepher - Thriller - USA - June 2017 - 96 minutes
Emmy nominated Billy Flynn stars in an ensemble cast as Sam Collins, a pharmaceutical sales rep who visits a small town in Louisiana to close the business deal of a lifetime. He finds himself in a dark world of sex, corruption and murder as he is poisoned with no antidote to save his life. Desperate for answers, with less than 24 hours to live, Sam turns to a local girl Jesse. Their path leads to a voodoo priestess who only confirms Sam's doomed fate. On the run, caught in a deadly vertigo with no one to trust, Sam and Jesse find themselves running from police detectives, the Mob and a dirty sheriff who wants him dead.
Craddle of Champions by Bartle Bull, cinematography by legendary Tom Hurwitz ASC (the Last Emperor), produced by Donald Rosenfeld (Tree of Life, Remains of the Day...)
"Fighting for your life in the city of dreams"
The most awarded "dream team" of documentary talent (VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR, CITIZENFOUR, RESTREPO, CAMERAPERSON, QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, RACING DREAMS, CARTEL LAND etc.) in decades captures the epic story of three young people fighting for their lives in the oldest, biggest, most important amateur boxing tournament in the world: New York’s Daily News Golden Gloves.
CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS follows three extraordinary, inspiring individuals—James Wilkins, Nisa Rodriguez, and Titus Williams—on an urban odyssey through a ten-week tournament, founded in 1927, that has produced more professional world champions than the Olympic Games.
Telling a compelling story of dreams, heartbreak, and redemption, the result is a unique work of art. CRADLE OF CHAMPIONS is edge-of-the-seat drama with the polish of a Hollywood feature film and the intimacy of a gritty cinéma vérité classic.
Ali Noori Oskouei Director and Seyed Vahid Olyaee Producer with their prize fro Animation That Matters Award.
The film opened Animation Day May 22 and received the next day THE ANIMATION THAT MATTERS AWARD - ANIMATION DAY IN CANNES 2017
In a war torn country, a female writer and teacher has to accompany two of her students on a life changing journey.
Sareh is a school teacher who writes comic strips. Due to a happening, she has to start a journey with two of her students to take them to their fathers. During the journey she tries to make them calm by telling them a part of the last story she has written. Regarding that the story is sort of related to her own past and nostalgia she herself gets submerged in it as well as the kids. In the middle of their journey they discover a cave which has been in Sareh's childhood imagination and she had described it in her story. However the discovery of this cave in real world makes her realize a truth about her childhood and makes her love the hero of her story. She finds out that the man who is the hero of her story is not just an imaginary person but a real character who had made her childhood world beautiful with his kind behavior and nice stories. Now she has just realized that her heaven like daily life is no longer attractive to her and she is determined to embrace the hardships and find her lost hero along with the search of her students' fathers; unaware of the fact that she herself is becoming a hero for her students by her behavior and stories just like her own childhood hero with whom she had gone on a journey.
Angel's Salvation by Hassan AKHONDPOOR - Feature film Iran
Iran 2017 90 minutes
Angel's (Fereshteh’s) father has gone bankrupt during Iran’s nuclear sanctions years and troubled economy. The family had to sell their home and are now living in a small, ran down house. The creditors pressure Fereshteh for their money and hurt her feminine family. Farzaneh, Fereshteh’s sister, was going to marry but her wedding was cancelled because of their situation. Fereshteh’s mother sells all home appliances and now there is only one creditor left who wants Fereshteh instead of his money. Fereshteh is in a dilemma of giving in to a married man, which will lead to her father’s release, or fighting the problems of lacking money and lacking her father.
A film by Hassan AKHONDPOOR, produced by Ebrahim ASGHARIstarring Elahe SHAHPARAST, Roshanak SE GHALEGI, Neda KOHI,
In a world where the price of a rhino horn is higher than cocaine, a determined Special Forces captain and anti-poaching crusader goes on a savage rampage to avenge his murdered partner and stop criminal networks from trafficking endangered wildlife.
"It s a real War!" .... "Take a stand!".... "If something is not done soon, rhinos might not be here for future generations" ...
The sadistic tale of a lonely, mentally handicapped boy who befriends his reflection in an antique mirror. This demonic creature orders him to go on a murderous rampage to kill the people he loves most.
LIES WE TELL by Mitu Misra
Bradford International Film Associates Ltd. just completed Lies We Tell their first feature film written and directed by Mitu Misra, with Gabriel Byrne as the lead and a stellar cast including Harvey Keitel, Jan Uddin, Sibylla Deen, Mark Addy & Gina McKee.
A trusted driver must deal with his dead boss's Muslim mistress, her dark past pulling him into a life-and-death showdown with her notorious gangster cousin/ex-husband.
LIES WE TELL’s Gabriel Byrne & Harvey Keitel Pack a Punch in Mitu Misra’s Urban Epic Debut
by Quendrith Johnson. Whenever Harvey Keitel is in a movie, American audiences instantly have a clue the subject matter is going to pack a punch, and first time writer-director Mitu Misra’s LIES WE TELL pays it off in full. Oscar-nominated Keitel is joined by fellow hard-hitter Gabriel Byrne, in a pair of intertwined lives that are about as intimate as two men can be, even where women are concerned...
Lies We Tell - Review: A suspense-filled crime thriller with a full-bodied social background
by Martin Petrov. In a contemporary crime drama, first time filmmaker Mitu Misra gathers together an everyday, yet conceptually original story, complex characters and builds up a plot that can easily compete with indie social realist films from both Europe and across the pond. Starting off with a dose of eroticism, the development of Lies We Tell into a suspense-filled crime thriller with a full-bodied social background definitely comes as a greatly welcomed surprise ...
Lies We Tell review: "Fasten your Seat-Belts"
by Philip Bergson. Fasten your seat-belts for a gripping, intriguing, eye-opening, startling, emotionally-disturbing and even shocking expose of the underbelly of a northern British metropolis—in one of the most impressive ,assured and utterly independent debut feature I have had the pleasure of seeing in ages. Credibly filmed in and around Bradford, the world’s first UNESCO “City of Film”, centre of the global woollen industry and in its Edwardian heyd...
Lies We Tell Review: A touching Thriller Story
by Lia Fietz. The film brings into discussion several social topics prominent in present times, such as a male dominating society, issues that involve an Islamic divorce and being forced into marriage to please families.
Lies we Tell Review : Gabriel Byrne delivers
by Laurie Gordon. First time director Mitu Misra’s Lies We Tell debut feature is an offering of great acting, a strong story and stellar performances by Gabriel Byrne and the entire cast. Byrne delivers a sensitive and powerful performance with an intensity and gritty authenticity. He plays Donald and has a palpable chemistry with Amber (acted by newcomer Sybilla Deen).
OFFENSIVE, a Jon Ford thriller movie
“Holy shit! This flick is something else !” “Stands out as a roaring success!” - Dreadcentral, 4 stars. ****
"A well crafted thriller! Offensive will make your blood boil!” - Hollywood news 4 stars ****
"A bloody brutal spin on the home invasion story!” - Kat Hughes 4 stars ****
"Director Jonathan Ford expertly crafts the tension levels.” - Gareth Jones 4 stars ****
"They were forced beyond breaking point; they have no regrets, does that make them bad people? The first part of this film will enrage you ! The second part will sate you !". Bruno Chatelin - Filmfestivals.com
A retired couple, Bernard and Helen Martin, inherit a remote house in rural France, the very same village Bernard’s war hero father liberated during the Second World War, over 70 years earlier. This peaceful couple quickly become the target of a crual gang of street kids, who terrorise the village.
An e-generation permanently plugged into their devices, devoid of empathy, a new breed of technological psychopath…Pushed beyond breaking point, can Bernard live up to his father’s legend, as the situation explodes into a brutal war of generations ?
What happens when a domestic droid, outfitted with a highly sophisticated personality chip makes a move to take his master hostage for his own good?
Told with offbeat humor by the droid himself, a story eminently human, about what's good in men, about the quest of a machine, and eventually about love and respect for mankind.
A cult movie in the making!
Revolution by Rob Stewart (second feature documentary following the success of Sharkwater)
over 40 festival wins so far
82 minutes Canada
Eco Documentary feature film by Rob Stewart April 2015.
Revolution is a film about changing the world. The true-life adventure of Rob Stewart, this follow-up to his acclaimed SHARKWATER (36 festival wins) documentary continues his remarkable journey; one that will take him through 15 countries over four years, and where he'll discover that it's not only sharks that are in grave danger -- it's humanity itself.
40FATHOMS FILMMAKER AWARD FOR FURTHERING OCEAN CONSERVATION
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Evolution Mallorca
PRESENTER LEAD
Blue Ocean Film Festival and Conservatory Summit
THE SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT AWARD
Inaugural Our Sustainable World Film Festival
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE SPECIAL MENTION: DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Impact DOCS Awards
NEW MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL
Best Trailer
G2 GREEN EARTH FILM FESTIVAL 2016
Semi-Finalist
The Hidden Rebellion by Daniel Rabourdin
75 minutes French
“Old men know what war is...
Set ten years after the American Revolution in the idyllic French countryside of the Vendee, “The Hidden Rebellion” combines insightful documentary with richly dramatic scenes of battle, resistance, and love as the storm clouds of the French Revolution gather.
At first, this peaceful region of France welcomes the French Revolution’s projects of reforms. But when the reforms are replaced by a profound change of the nation’s identity, the Vendéans start to defend their clergy, resist the higher taxes and refuse to wage ideological wars beyond the borders.
Victorious in early battles, the Vendéans are later defeated militarily. What follows is a 150,000-person extermination of the civilians that includes the slaying of women and children so that “the race does not persist”. Priests and nuns are drowned, hung and thrown to an angry mob.
The destruction of the population in the Vendee region is a documented goal of the French Revolutionary forces and raises important questions related to freedom of conscience, political tyranny, and religious persecution that are highly relevant considering today’s geo-political climate.
“The Hidden Rebellion” presents a searing examination of the events and, even more importantly, of the ideas surrounding one of history’s most chilling instances of genocide.
A powerful and important warning to the world in this time of increasing intolerance toward faith and family, “The Hidden Rebellion” tells the story of simple, faithful people who “gave up the world…for heaven.”
An artistic journey between fiction and documentary film at the same time, throughout space, time, dimensions, light and music, that are conducting through the full sequence to a live experience of Enoc the Resplendent Stargate Energy®
The film, 100 minutes directed by Serena Dykman, tells the story of three women, of three generations, in three different regions: Poland, Belgium, and New York City. Alice and Serena, daughter and granddaughter respectively of Maryla Michalowski-Dyamant, convey the extraordinary story of this Auschwitz survivor, who was a passionate activist for remembrance and tolerance. Maryla had a singular journey; she was forced to work as the translator for the infamous Dr Mengele, “the angel of death” of Auschwitz.
Paranoid Girls Comedy by Pedro del Santo is qualified for Oscar selection running for best film, best original song...
Ana, Paula and Veronica become fascinated by modeling and the life that it offers. Yet, they gradually begin to discover the dark side of fashion hidden behind the fame and glamour of the spotlights. The women experience downfall as they engage with an antagonistic photographer who drags models into a high stakes abyss of danger. The women learn to value friendship over the lures of fashion pitfalls and enjoy life's simplicities in the end.
Exodus to Shanghai a film by Anthony Hickox, writtend and produced by Michel Adam tells a story of two brave lovers, Fannia and Bruce, who stand up to the Nazis and fight against their evil. With the help of music, martial arts and wisdom, they make their escape to Shanghai on the Orient Express, saving many Jews along the journey.
Together with Dr. Ho, the Chinese Consul in Vienna in 1938, who helped thousands of Jews to flee Vienna and escape to Shanghai with free Exit Visas, they make their Exodus to Shanghai.
A Dead Nazi is a Good Nazi.
Market Premiere at EFM February 12, Festival World Premier Fantasporto March 3
Feature Feel Good Movie - USA - 99 minutes - First feature - 2015
World premiered in Montreal World Film Festival Winner best romantic comedy in Manhattan Fest
Charlie Kane can’t catch a break. He grew into a man who expects the worse out of life and gets it. But that changes when, by chance, he meets a bright, sunny sprite of a woman named Holly who turns him from a dour drip into someone finally allowing himself to be happy.Then a bus flattens her before Charlie eyes. Charlie opts for suicide but can’t even successfully give up on life. Left with no other choice, he adopts Holly’s ethos of positivity and just decides to be happy... by ignoring all the bad things in life. But his cynical best friend isn’t buying Charlie’s new-found happiness and sets out to save Charlie by making him miserable again.
Director Arthur Kanegis brings to the screen The World Is My Country, the epic story of the daring, controversial, and decades-ahead-of-his-time legendary figure, World Citizen #1 Garry Davis (27 July 1921 – 24 July 2013). Martin Sheen calls his story “a roadmap to a better future.”
A citizen of no nation, only the world – for 65 years -- Davis was hailed by Albert Einstein for “the sacrifices he has made for the well-being of humanity,” extolled by Buckminster Fuller as “the new World Man”, and challenged by Eleanor Roosevelt to start “a worldwide international government.”
He was not a politician but an actor -- Danny Kaye’s understudy on Broadway. Yet his bold actions sparked a massive movement which helped trigger the unanimous passage of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and planted the seeds for borderlines to fall across Europe. His amazing life story made the front page of the New York Times and headlines around the world when he died in 2013, and is now the subject of this forthcoming motion picture produced by FutureWAVE, Inc.
“I fell in love with this guy,” says Martin Sheen who introduces Davis in the film. “He was an actor, a song and dance man, who leapt off the Broadway stage, onto the world stage in 1948, taking on cops, border guards, armies and whole nations – showing us we don’t have to accept a world ravaged by war and plunging towered environmental destruction… We can build a world that is constructive for all and destructive to none.”
With these "Movies that Matter" I trust you will be inspired and I hope you will consider them in your selection.
If you can offer them waivers, I can return the favor with an ad for your festival in our newsletter (send me a press release for publication and promotion in our newsletter (valued 330$) & I would be happy to promote further your festival through these films if they are selected.
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